Cedarville University was closed for the first time in years after the big snow and ice Tuesday. I never thought it would stop coming down. We’re on a two hour delay today so we can get back at it.

Valentine’s Day always has an interesting feel to it. Like most holidays, there is a substantive history to the celebration (St. Valentine and his role in promoting love and marriage against the dictates of the cruel empire and so on) that has become lost in consumerism. The backlash is interesting. There are many Anti-Valentine’s Day activities, programs and web-sites. You can even buy anti-Valentine’s Day cards that exploit the consumerism of Valentine’s Day by using consumerism as a weapon (sort of like the rap group The Coup selling their anti-capitalist CD’s).

Here are some anti-Valentine’s Day cards you can buy:

* “Happy unimaginative, consumerist-oriented and entirely arbitrary, manipulative and shallow interpretation of romance day”

* “I love you blah blah blah

                  Hearts and flowers

                  Yadda yadda yadda

                  Kisses, cupid, etc.”

* “Nothing says “I love you” quite like saturated fat and slutty lingerie”

* “The executive management team of BigCorp Greetings Products & Floral Services (International) would like to thank you for supporting our shareholders this wonderful day of romance.”

The most cynical is . . .

* “You’ll do”

And the funniest is . . .

* “My Preciousssssssssssss”

Valentine’s Day can be a downer for those not in a loving relationship or it can put pressure on those who are in a relationship that is as yet undefined.

But the most difficult part of the loving relationship concept is not the consumerism but the lack of genuine romance. Romantic comedies now cut right to the sex and let the relationship try to catch up. Even don juan actor Hugh Grant complains about how difficult it is to make romantic comedies because all of the mystery of intimacy is stripped away. Sex is like shaking hands.

Culture has lost so much in the sexualized version of commitment and romance. I was speaking to an inner city high school group a few years ago and I asked the students about their dreams. Most of the guys were set on becoming NBA players (though not one of them was over six foot tall). The girls were strangely silent. Eventually one girl raised her hand and said, “My dream is to have three children, then maybe get married.” No one missed a beat. It was a though she was speaking for all the girls in the room.

I am not being prudish when I say this but God’s idea of courtship, marriage and sex is not only a great idea but works exceptionally well. Following such a plan is radical and counter-cultural. I wonder how many of the coming generation will buy into it?

For me, I am grateful that Lynne said “yes” when I asked her to marry me. I thank her for that a lot. She is my best friend and still tries everyday to win my heart. Soon, I think I’ll play hard to get; just for the fun of it.

Of course, I try to win her heart, too. But she’s a softie and let’s me know she loves me by laughing at my jokes (both of them) and keeping me focused.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Have a blessed week!!!